Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | Quarter-Final
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These two renew hostilities once again, having faced each other twice in the spring and once again as recently as this weekend – but now the stakes are perhaps even higher.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – HBO Max / USA – DAZN & Paramount+
Barcelona preview: Finding a way
At the weekend, Barcelona managed to find a route to three points as they defeated Atletico Madrid by two goals to one to extend their lead at the top of La Liga with a come from behind victory at the Metropolitano, courtesy of a Robert Lewandowski winner.
Barcelona can be irresistible to watch but, a sign of a good side, they have been underwhelming fairly regularly throughout this campaign – and yet they have consistently found themselves a way to win.
Atletico Madrid preview: Entertaining Atleti
They didn’t manage to find a way in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, though, despite winning the second-leg of that tie by three goals to nil at Camp Nou, with Atletico heading through to a final against Real Sociedad in Seville later this month.
Diego Simeone’s Los Rojiblancos have been very entertaining to watch and their focus can be fully on that cup final, as well as Europe, as they sit tucked comfortably inside the top four but well adrift of the title race.
Barcelona team news: The Raphinha issue
A lot of the best football of Barcelona comes through Brazil international winger Raphinha but the hosts are having to deal with their key men being sidelined due to a hamstring issue.
As well as the absence of Raphinha, versatile defender Andreas Christensen remains a longer-term absentee with midfield duo Marc Bernal and Frenkie de Jong both also unavailable.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): J. Garcia; Kounde, E. Garcia, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, Casado; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Lewandowski
Unavailable: Christensen (Injured), Bernal (Injured), De Jong (Injured), Raphinha (Injured)
Questionable:
Atletico Madrid team news: Experienced doubts
Atletico are dealing with a couple of key injury doubts in the defensive third of the pitch as goalkeeper Jan Oblak is potentially sidelined alongside centre-back Jose Maria Gimenez.
The versatile Marc Pubill, who has been excellent in recent months, is also a doubt, while midfield duo Pablo Barrios and Johnny Cardoso are confirmed absentees.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Llorente, Koke, Lookman; Griezmann, Alvarez
Unavailable: Barrios (Injured), Johnny (Injured)
Questionable: Oblak (Injured), Gimenez (Injured), Pubill (Injured), Mendoza (Injured)
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid prediction
Barcelona have adjusted ever so slightly from their previously relentless high press and almost ridiculous high-line, but they remain a side that play with an immense amount of risk. Atleti have turned themselves into one of the better watches in European football, too, and away from the stereotypical ‘Cholismo’, defensive style. Barcelona remain favourites, especially at Camp Nou, but Atletico have a lot of attacking potential to ensure that it is not a straightforward first-leg win for the Blaugrana.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Tip: Barcelona to win & both teams to score
